Covered Bridges

     Over our year in New Brunswick, we have tried to do different things so searching for many of the covered bridges was one of our projects. During the year we travelled to most areas in the province of New Brunswick. Out of the estimated 400 covered bridges still left in Canada, 62 (as of 2009 but now less) of them are in New Brunswick. During peak time of bridges there were over 1,400 covered bridges in Canada. A true heritage. Our goal was to visit as many as possible during our travels. Some of them are in out of the way places and we missed many of them. Some of them are not in use any more but they still stand in the same location on which they were built. Beside some of these decommissioned covered bridges, you can see the bigger, stronger bridge that can handle the heavier traffic.

     It has been said that an uncovered bridge would last about 10 years while one covered with a roof could stay in use for up to 80 years. Douglas fir from British Columbia was strong and resistant to rot but New Brunswick black spruce was often used for flooring and local cedar made excellent shingles for roof materials. Local stone was sometimes used for the embankments. Even with these materials, over time many of the bridges were repaired or rebuilt. Many of the bridges have disappeared due to natural deterioration, vandalism or arson.

     On June 17, 2019, Canada Post issued a Covered Bridge series honouring 5 Canadian Covered bridges with the New Brunswick Hartland Covered Bridge as the lead stamp. In 1995, the  Hartland Covered Bridge was also featured on the 45-cent stamp.

Hartland Bridge: This is the most famous covered bridge with its claim of being the world's longest covered bridge spanning 1,282 feet. The bridge is only one lane so traffic must wait for the oncoming traffic to pass by. For more information on the Hartland Covered Bridge click here.

Kennebecasis Salmon

Smith Creek Tranton 1927

Plumweseep 1910

Moosehorn Bridge 1915

Out one side you see the natural beauty of the surrounding area

The other side you see the new bridge with the larger flow of traffic

Bloomsfield Creed 1917

Belleisle Creek Marven 1903

Bamford Colpitts Bridge

Hasty Bridge 1927

Magnetic Hill 1982: This bridge was the Coverdale Bridge #7 erected in 1915 at Parkingdale in Albert County which was dismantled and reassembled at the Magnetic Hill in Moncton to serve as a tourist attraction.

William Mitton Covered Bridge in Riverview, 1930

Point Wolfe 1942: This is the only painted covered bridge that we saw in New Brunswick.  It is located in the Fundy National Park. Notice the tight curve i the road approaching the bridge. It is a single-span bridge so you have to be careful of oncoming traffic.

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Bridge model at the Visitor Centre in Fundy Park

Burpee Bridge 1913

Nelson Hollow Bridge 1870

Benton Bridge 1927

Canal Covered Bridge 1917

Little Lepreau River Mill Pond 1910

Trout Creek #4 1905

Bridge at the Acadian Historical Village

The caption on the sign above the bridge reads,
"$20.00 Fine for driving on the bridge faster than a walk".

Taking a break in front of the bridge

     While leaving the province on May 30, we found three more covered bridges:

Quisibis River 1952. This bridge is now being repaired. I hope that they put it to good use afterward.

 Boniface Bridge 1925

Baker Brook #2, Morneault, 1939. This bridge is now being used by the community as a gathering place. In the bridge is a little library, a picnic table and bench

This is what you see on the other side of the bridge.

Rest for a bit and feed the birds. That could be a problem.

It's a horse, of course.

We traveled along one road several times on different days looking for a particular
bridge but could never find it. Along the way, we passed the same barn and each time
this horse was standing in exactly the same place, just standing there. The funny thing
is the bridge we were looking for was down a gravel well-worn track that ran right
beside this horse and his barn. We had to walk down the track to see the bridge.

     Even though we did not find all of the New Brunswick bridges, it was fun and a challenge at times to find them. If we had enough time, like another year or so, we probably could have found them all but time is not on our side. Looking at the rich heritage of the province is one way to getting to know the area.